Innovative technologies in manufacturing

These short video presentations cover a range of innovations and new technologies within manufacturing, describing the opportunities for growth and development open to SMEs over the next 10 years. Sponsored by Epicor Software.

James describes what is on offer through key innovations and advances in software; new combinations of technologies; the development of new materials and products; and new production processes. For example, Computer Aided Design (CAD), combined with tracking, provides immersive technology for simulation of design, prototyping and testing. New materials such as Graphene and new metal alloys possess different qualities compared to traditional materials and their use will result in lighter, thicker and stiffer components and products. Metatronics, robotics and IT will allow innovations in operational and production processes and also transform the physical world.

The many benefits include flexibility in manufacturing processes, ensuring fast response to end user requirements or customer preferences; automation and the extensive use of drones, which can remove the need for workers to operate in exacting environments such as mining or on sea beds.

In each video, James suggests that SMEs need to experiment and identify areas where they could:

• significantly improve current products
• explore opportunities for new types of collaboration
• consider the possibilities offered by countries with minimal time-differences and language barriers, such as in the African continent
• plan for specialist workforces able to drive new innovations in to production such as those with particular IT and computing skills, biologists or chemists.

Click on the links to view each video and hear the calls to action for SMEs:

1. How will Computer Aided Design evolve over the next 10 years? By investing in and creating “Immersive Technologies”.

2. Why will new materials impact manufacturing over the next 10 years? New materials and new methods will allow new qualities and new possibilities.

3. What are Rare Earths and why will they matter more over the next 10 years? From magnets and batteries, to bicycles and motors, electricity takes a back seat.

4. What will be the impact of printed electronics over the next 10 years? Mobility, flexibility and diversity will allow new sensory and display possibilities.

5. How will manufacturers collaborate more with retailers over the next 10 years? Metatronics, new media and a transformation of the retail experience will forge new collaborations.

6. How will innovation in IT cross more into the physical world over the next 10 years? From mining to the driverless car and from drones to robots, IT will enter the physical world.

7. Why will simplicity of product design become more important over the next 10 years? Simplicity will allow a “fire and forget” approach to our everyday-user technologies.

8. Why will supply chains become more transparent over the next 10 years? Both younger customers and the big corporations will demand transparency within the “Supply Network”.

9. Why will robots make a greater impact on product recycling over the next 10 years? The application of robotic principles will challenge the current wastefulness of human labour in regards to recycling.

10. Why Africa will become more of a manufacturing hub over the next 10 years? Africa is shaking off it’s image of trinkets and minerals, as it rapidly expands its manufacturing industries and niche markets.